2002 Cariad Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Colgin's 2002 Cariad has aged exceptionally well. A gorgeous, Old World bouquet laced with graphite, smoke and incense melds into layers of dark red fruit. The 2002 gets better and better in the glass as the aromatics continue to open up and the tannins soften. Readers lucky enough to own the 2002 can look forward to another 5-10 years of superb drinking, perhaps more. This is a stellar showing.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Probably the least evolved, although certainly accessible, stunningly complex, and just a point short of pure perfection is the 2002 Cariad. It is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all purchased fruit from the David Abreu-owned and managed vineyards of Madrona Ranch in St. Helena and Thorevilos, behind the Meadowood Resort. Strikingly dark plum/purple in color, with notes of white chocolate, barbecue smoke, graphite, blueberry and blackberry liqueur as well as espresso roast, this is a tremendously complex blend that hits the palate with full-bodied opulence, terrific richness and intensity, and wonderfully silky tannins. The entire wine saturates the palate yet is never heavy, instead rather ethereal. This is an extraordinarily elegant, complex, yet authoritative example of a creative blend from some of the finest terroirs in all of Napa Valley, brought to life by the extraordinary passion and abilities of owners Ann Colgin and Joe Wender. If the other three wines seem to have fully matured, this wine probably won’t reach its plateau for another 2-3 years and it will keep for 15 or more. The debut vintage of the Tychson Hill Vineyard, which is located right on Route 29, north of St. Helena, was 2002. I gave it a prefect score seven years ago, and there’s no reason to change that. My only surprise from my recent tasting is that the wine has evolved slightly faster than I would have thought. Tel. (707) 963-0999
Saturated deep ruby. Utterly distinctive aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, Asia n spices, duck sauce, exotic herbs and flowers. Silky, lush and dense, with wonderfully subtle oak character. This actually comes across as tighter and leaner than the Tychson Hill, and more elegant, but this is due to the wine's surprising acidity and firm underlying structure, which also keep this blend remarkably fresh. A fascinating blend with a rising finish that's rare for North Coast red wine at this level of ripeness. This may merit an even higher score with six to eight years of additional bottle aging.
(a blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot, 4% cab franc and 2% petit verdot) Deep ruby to the rim. Flamboyantly deep aromas of blackberry, cassis, black cherry, violet, leather and dusty herbs. Offers great volume and lush texture. Shares the extraordinary depth of the Tychson Hill cuvee but comes across today as a bit less confectionery. Here, too, the major tannins are almost magically suave, and the finishing flavors go on and on. These 2002s were scheduled to be bottled in April.
About the producer
Colgin has been producing some of the finest Cabernet blends in Napa Valley since its first vintage in 1992. Within just 13 years, it was recognised as one of the top 50 wine estates in the world by Robert Parker.